Steemmonsters Experiment Day 5: Fighting A Losing Battle

No surprises on day 5 of the experiment in which I start playing Steemmonsters with only a starter deck. I want to experience first hand what it is like to join the game at the start of season 6.

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Nothing Spectacular

Just like I predicted in my previous post, I don't have anything spectacular to tell you about day 5.

The fact that I'm an experienced player is still a big advantage. The 10 cards I could buy from the money I earned from selling my first reward card, the gold foil Wood Nymph, are too.

But I wonder how much longer this will last... Up until now, I have only been matched with other level 1 teams. Which I think is a little surprising, because my level 1 alpha deck has been matched quite often with a level 2 deck, in spite of the fact that its rating is lower than the one of this deck.

Could it be because the alpha deck is a full deck, while this was only a plain starter deck 5 days ago?

Anyway, 13 minutes to complete the DQ is a new record for this account.

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It's a shame that both @hotfire and @jestertwisted both fled the battlefield, or it would have been a nice 5-in-a-row.

@hotfire, by the way, is turning surrendering into a new form of art...

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Bronze 1

Thanks to all those victories, I reached Bronze 1 and I will be receiving 9 reward cards at the end of the season.

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I have my DQ coming up in about 5 hours, and I do expect to bump into some level 2 accounts this time. But with a little luck, it won't take too much effort to beat them too.

ll will depend on the splinter I will have to play. I'm really no good with the Life and the Earth splinter. And because of that, I try to avoid playing them when I can. Not really a good idea... if I never play them, I'll never learn...

I'm Gonna Be In Trouble Soon

Because I'm climbing up in the leagues so fast, I'll soon be confronted with the fact that my deck is incomplete.

I still don't own a single Epic, let alone a Legendary.

When you tell people you are playing a starter deck, a lot of them (mostly the ones who play a high deck themselves) don't see a problem in this.

"Oh, but you only have to sell the reward cards you win after completing a daily quest and use the money to buy extra cards. You'll have a complete deck soon."

Right! Like that's going to happen. The people who give me that line have obviously lost touch with reality. Maybe I had too, because I didn't foresee it would be this difficult to grow that starter deck.

If it hadn't been for that gold foil the first day, I would still be playing a starter deck.

After all, reward cards are handed out to everyone for free, every day again. There are a few exceptions, but most of the reward cards are sold for next to nothing. And now the payout of season rewards is getting closer, no one is buying them either. Why would they? They have a truckload of cards coming their way in just a couple of days.

Yesterday's reward card was the neutral Goblin Mech.

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He looks like he is a tough tank, but from experience I've earned most of it is make-belief. He dies more quickly than you would expect. Probably the reason he's currently selling for 5 cents.

Funding My Deck

After playing for 5 days and thus completing 5 Daily Quests, these are the reward cards I've earned so far:

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I have been very lucky to get the gold foil Wood Nymph the first day, because I was able to sell it for $0.98 and used the funds to buy 10 extra cards for my deck. (Meanwhile, the price has dropped to only $0.70.)

Market prices of the other cards:

Creeping Ooze: $0.05

Silvershield Archers: $ 0.07
(Wow, time to sell the card. Two days ago it was only worth $0.02.)

Goblin Mech: $0.05

I hope the tide will turn soon, because at this pace, it is going to take a year before I'm able to afford an epic or a legendary card.

So, in case you're one of those people who comforted me with the fact that I would be able to build my deck quickly by selling my reward cards, I kindly ask you to read the last part again and reconsider your opinion.

(And maybe pay a visit to the market and buy that 'Silvershield Archers'-card I just put up for sale.) 😉

( No Dave, not you. You are not allowed to buy my cards anymore, lol - that would make it too easy)

Fighting A Losing Battle

A couple of days ago, one of my team mates told me I shouldn't be doing this experiment, because it was a waste of time. I absolutely agree, and after only 5 days I already lost my believe in the fact that one is still able to build his @steemmonsters deck without investing extra money.

Still, I will keep going, because that's exactly the point I want to make.

I've only got this far already because I'm not a real newbie. If I would be, I would probably still be struggling to complete the first or second DQ.

My experience allows me to complete a DQ in 15 minutes. Writing this post takes me at least 4 times as long. These posts are not only meant to document my experiences, but also to earn a little extra, so I can buy more cards.

I have the luxury to stop this experiment whenever I think it takes up too much of my time, or when there will be more frustration than fun. Many people aren't that fortunate, as this is the only way for them to be able to play.

I'm fully aware of the founders' vision that "this game is not for everyone", and to be honest.... that makes me sad. Sad ánd angry. Why should only the rich be allowed to have fun?

Don't worry, I realize that I'm fighting a losing battle trying to make people see how unfair this entire situation is. But I'd rather fight a losing battle, than just stand on the sideline, do nothing and watch it happen...

So I assume you could say I'm wasting my time indeed, but at least I can look at myself in the mirror, and sleep at night.

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DISCLAIMER: Please let it make clear that this is not at all an attack on the founders of the Steemmonsters and their team. I think they've done an awesome job developing the game, and I admire how they are constantly tweaking it to make the @steemmonster experiment even better. I know they have been working hard day in, day out to make sure we have the ability to play, and I want to thank them for that.
They have done an awesome job making @steemmonsters one of the flagships of the community.

All I want to achieve is some insight on how things are going at the base of the game.

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